“If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.”
-Tom Peters
Why did you decide to go to Dickinson? While there are many fantastic reasons, few people I have met said they came for the nature around Carlisle. I know that before I came here I thought rolling cornfields was all the area had to offer. Now that I have been here for two years, and have started writing this blog I am interested in what prospective students think of this area. I decided to talk to my friend Harry, a senior from Massachusetts who is interested in coming to Dickinson and also shares my love for the outdoors.
Max: What are your first thoughts on Carlisle and Pennsylvania in general?
Harry: It’s definitely a nice town, a little bit bigger than where I grew up. My dad and I drove to Carlisle on a little side road that felt like a roller coaster, so that was fun. I saw a lot of small farms, and I know Dickinson buys products from many small farmers, so that’s pretty interesting.
Max: Is sustainability a big part of your life?
Harry: It should be, and I think it will become a bigger part.
Max: What kind of outdoor activities do you see yourself doing at Dickinson?
Harry: Definitely camping, that’s always fun, and even better when it’s with friends and no adults. I also want to be able to simply relax in the woods if I’ve got some free time.
Max: There are some fantastic spots for camping in the area. My friends and I were able to camp overnight for free in some of the most beautiful, isolated woods I’ve ever been to. There were excellent rock climbing boulders and birch trees for slack lining.
Don’t be fooled, I fell instantly
If you’re looking to get into the woods for less than an hour there are some wooded paths around D-Park and in the center of Carlisle, you just have to look closely. Have you heard anything about Dickinson’s Outing Club and possible orientation trips?
Harry: I know some schools like Colby and Colgate offer orientation trips, but honestly I hadn’t heard of Dickinson offering any.
Max: Yeah me neither until a few weeks ago, I think it’s still very preliminary, but that seems to be the direction the college is heading. These trips will be incredible bonding experiences, and show you some of what Pennsylvania has to offer.
Clearly many students, both prospective and current, have immense interest in the outdoors. The outing club is one of the largest on campus, and much of the school is focused on preserving the environment. Students need to be made more aware of Dickinson’s outdoor potential.
Hi everyone! I recently started an instagram account @humansofcarlisle. Feel free to follow me if you wish for pictures of Carlisle and it’s lovely Carlislians.
I know this post deviates from the normal routine of my blog, but I have to get this experience down in writing. Over Thanksgiving Break, I was lucky enough to travel to Toulouse, France to visit my boyfriend who is there studying abroad. I planned this trip way back in the beginning of the semester and checked all of my syllabi to make sure I wasn’t missing any big assignments or class meetings. Everything looked peachy, I had saved up enough money over the summer and I booked my ticket. The anticipation of waiting to go built week by week and I almost couldn’t stand my excitement. My week in Toulouse was absolutely incredible. Sam and I spent our days and nights walking around Toulouse, eating delicious food (5 euro falafels, yes please), strolling the Christmas market where we enjoyed delicious Churros (I ate more than he did, embarrassing) and taking full advantage of happy hours (when in France, do as the French do). I didn’t want to leave.
The last night I was there, Sam and I were packing up my stuff to leave. We had Parks and Rec on (of course) to keep us laughing instead of thinking about the impending goodbye. We had plans to go out to a nice steak dinner and hit the town as a last hoorah. That is, until we realized my passport was nowhere to be found. I completely panicked. We tore up his host family’s house, looked under rugs, shelves, piles of clothes, if you can imagine it we definitely looked under it, twice. Sam quickly got on the phone with every airline and airport I flew threw (all in French I might add). No one had my passport. We called the local US Consulate in Toulouse and they were, of course, closed. Their phone number just redirected us to the American Embassy in Paris. After about three hours of crisis mode and endless phone calls, we accepted the fact that we were going to have to go to Paris the next day to get an emergency passport. I cancelled my flight reservations for my trip home (with only 11 hours to spare) and we booked tickets for a morning trip to Paris. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Although, three hours of stress and total panic amounted to a whole lot of both. So, instead of stressing more about the current situation we ordered a pizza and watched Say Anything (one of my all time favs) and called it a night.
The next morning we woke up bright and early, caffeinated and said goodbye to his host family. His host mother told us a story that one time, she was saying goodbye to a boyfriend at the airport, and missed her flight. “Most expensive kiss of my life,” she said and laughed. This eased the pain of my situation a little better, accepting that these kinds of things happen. We made it to the train station on time and enjoyed the 6 hour ride of beautiful French countryside. Upon arriving in Paris, we made it as quickly as possible to a Starbucks to find some wifi. Both Sam and I contacted our parents to pass on the message that we were a-okay. I emailed my teachers so they knew why I wouldn’t be in class on Monday and we still had to find a place to stay. In the midst of all this, a boy (maybe 15 or 16) came into the Starbucks and approached me with a piece of paper. He waved the paper down towards the table I was sitting at and just stared at me. I, speaking little French, didn’t know what to say to him and had no idea why he wasn’t saying anything to me either. The paper appeared to be a scam of somesort, getting me to sign up for something. It wasn’t until we had this awkward stare down for about thirty seconds when I realized underneath the paper he had snatched my phone into his hand. I pulled it out of his hand and he quickly ran out. Sam and I were both so stunned. I was already down a passport, I really didn’t need to have my phone stolen too. Luckily, he was the worst thief ever and didn’t make it off with my phone. Sam secured us a place to stay and we decided to get the heck out of that Starbucks. We were then off to, finally, enjoy Paris. We walked past Notre Dame and made our way to a restaurant filled street. We enjoyed a cozy three course meal complete with nice waiters and a Frank Sinatra cd on repeat.
The next morning it was off to the embassy. We made it there before 8 am, but yet were still not the first people there. I only had a copy of my birth certificate on my phone (which my mom had graciously emailed me), but security took our phones as soon as we entered the building. I filled out my application and took my line number. Turns out the American Embassy is a lot like a DMV. A lot of sitting and waiting and anxious people. My number was called after an hour of waiting spent watching the TV loop on repeat (scenic videos advertising trips to Alaska!) As I approached the window, I was so nervous. So many questions raced through my head (Do i have the right documents on me? Will I get this in time to fly back tomorrow?) Thankfully, the whole process only took about two hours. We had the exact number of euros on us to purchase it and not a cent more, phew. Walking out, with a passport in hand, was such a relief.
We spent the rest of the day walking all over Paris (I still have the blisters to prove it.) We walked the Champs-Elysees, saw the Eiffel Tower and put a lock on the lover’s bridge. We made the most out of our unexpected trip, and then some. Paris is just as magical as I’ve always imagined it and I hope to definitely return. I feel like I have a written a novel and could most definitely go on but for now I’ll say Au Revoir. I have to also say so many thanks to Sam, could never had made it through this experience without him (and laughed as much through it.)
Listen to your favorite song three times on repeat. Immediately after the third time, write whatever comes to mind. Write for five minutes and see where you end up. (I played Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car three times and ended up thoroughly depressed.) Ultimately, let the music completely seep in and write what you feel when it stops.
A brief explanation of this playlist: While struggling with a bout of post-thanksgiving playlist-maker/writer’s block, I couldn’t decide whether to blog a playlist of all cover songs or a playlist of all relaxing songs for the stress of finals. I finally decided, why not have the best of both worlds? “Under the Covers” features exclusively mellow songs, the majority of which are calming indie covers of popular tunes. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a study break in bed, or curling up for the night after a long day. Yeah, I thought the title was pretty clever too. Enjoy, and don’t stress!
* LISTEN TO PLAYLIST #4: UNDER THE COVERS RIGHT HERE *
1. Won’t Back Down (Cover of Tom Petty’s Original Song) – Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Benjamin Francis Leftwich is an indie-folk singer-songwriter known for his soft voice and the delicate nature of his songs. In this cover, Leftwich masterfully strips down Tom Petty’s classic hit and makes it truly his own. Using his trademark style, Leftwich’s fluid crooning accompanied by the effortless plucking of his acoustic guitar makes for a remarkable, finespun cover.
As a Wisconsinite, I am fiercely loyal to fellow dairy-state native Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Today, out of overdue curiosity, I purchased the most recent album from Vernon’s side-project, Volcano Choir. “Repave” is the second of two albums released by Volcano Choir, a band Vernon formed in our shared homeland with members of Collections of Colonies of Bees. And it is in my mind, a masterpiece. The record strays just far enough from the trademark style of Bon Iver to be identified as its own unique musical force, yet maintains a certain familiarity that Vernon’s fans appreciate. “Alaskans” is my favorite song off the album. The song is a carefully-put-together collage of instruments and vocals that build, swell, and fall like the waves pictured on the album cover. This song truly takes you to another place.
3. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cover of Cyndi Lauper’s Original Song) – Greg Laswell
Indie singer-songwriter Greg Laswell takes on the pop-powerhouse classic “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cydni Lauper using only a piano. The concept may sound strange, but Laswell’s cover makes the song sound more reflective and lamenting, as if he is desperately trying to understand the wishes of teenage daughters in the modern age.
“Delicate” is the first song off of Damien Rice’s famous album “O.” It features a mellowing blend of string instruments and acoustic guitar that builds into the powerful last chorus. The emotionally-rich lyrics relay the plight of a confused lover with a real passion that is palpable in Rice’s voice.
5. I Try (Cover of Macy Gray’s Original Song) – Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor’s sole weapons of choice for his cover of Macy Gray’s “I Try” are an acoustic guitar and subtle background vocals. Short but sweet, his rendition is a pleasure to listen to. While Taylor’s version is notably more understated than the powerful original, it retains the same catchiness.
“Pine Trees” is fresh off of 19-year-old Jake Bugg’s new album “Shangri La” (that I said I would review, sorry, not happening yet, oops). Bugg’s upbeat retro-folk enchants listeners worldwide,and being 19 myself, I have boundless admiration and respect for him. “Pine Trees” is the one song on his new release that stands out from the rest of his work. Personally, this is one of my favorite songs by Bugg, as he goes without drums and classic-rock-riffery. He softly strums his guitar and croons to the listener with beautiful, honest lyrics. Rolling Stone magazine describes “Pine Trees” as “an alienated epistle that could’ve been cut in a winter cabin.” I honestly don’t think I could’ve put it better myself.
7. Can’t Help Falling In Love (Cover of Elvis Presley’s Original Song) – Fleet Foxes
I have to admit, I was quite pleasantly surprised when I caught wind that the famous indie-rock geniuses of Fleet Foxes took on this heavily-covered Elvis hit. I knew they’d make a rendition that stood out from the rest. And did they ever. This cover is truly and undeniably Fleet Foxes. The many voices of the band combine to create their trademark choir-like harmonies that are delightful when paired with a single acoustic guitar. They could not have picked a more perfect song to cover.
8. Let’s Dance (Cover of David Bowie’s Original Song) – M. Ward
Noteworthy singer-songwriter and guitarist M. Ward transforms Bowie’s get-up-and-dance hit into a reflective and heartfelt love song. Ward’s husky vocals paired with guitar chords in the minor key and even the appearance of a howling harmonica make this slow and serious cover so remarkable.
* LISTEN TO PLAYLIST #4: UNDER THE COVERS RIGHT HERE *
The lure of Netflix is always stronger when you have a pile of important stuff to do – like that time I was abroad in England and had three days to write two final papers, but decided that watching the entire first season of New Girl before I left the country was equally important. Thanksgiving break was a similar scene. While I could’ve (and should’ve) started research for my final papers, I started a mini-marathon of the first season of Friday Night Lights instead.
13 episodes later and I’m officially emotionally attached and addicted to the show. Everyone needs to watch this show ASAP. Ladies, think you don’t want to watch a show about football? Think again. At first I was like, no way will a show about football keep my attention – I was so wrong. It gives us everything: drama, relationships, scandals, tragedies, morality issues, racism, family values, drugs, economic disadvantage, the war in Iraq, and so on. Literally everything. Friday Night Lights is centered around the town of Dillon, a close-knit community in rural Texas, which depends entirely on its high school football team for its survival. Football players are frequently drafted from Dillon to play in the NFL, and many of the families depend on the success of their sons’ potential football career to eventually provide for their family.
Friday Night Light offers two social spheres: the adults of Dillon, and its high school students. Particular focus is given to the team’s coach, Eric Taylor, and his wife, Tami and daughter, Julie. Through Coach Taylor and his family, we learn about the lives of other team members and those who are connected to them.
A significant underlying tension in Friday Night Lights is gender relations. There are specific roles and expectations that each gender must fulfill according to the social customs of Dillon. Most of them are what I guess we would consider “traditional” southern gender roles.
For the most part, there are only two types of women on this show: religious wholesome women, and promiscuous “low class” women. The jobs of the wholesome set of women range from supporting their husbands and their careers no matter what, to running bake sales (the proceeds of which go towards supporting the football team). Meanwhile, the other option for females is to slink around town in tight jeans and belly shirts, offering sexual favors to the football players. In either case, women’s actions are dictated by what men are doing, and what men need from them. Teenage girls are overprotected by their fathers and brothers, and are barely granted permission to go out on dates. At the same time, fathers are vocal about their daughters marrying a successful man to support them. Though these girls are not necessarily as pure and wholesome as their fathers believe and wish them to be, they still play the role of the infantilized innocent girl who is dependent on her father’s/boyfriend’s protection and care.
Good girl Lyla vs. Fast girl Tyra
That being said, the men in the show are portrayed in similar binary terms. Representations of men are essentially split between the extreme gentleman and big-headed bad boys. In this sense, males and females in the show are on equal footing when considering their gender restrictions. Jason Street, the once promising quarterback who is paralyzed during a play-gone-wrong in the first episode of the season is the exception. Once the epitome of masculinity, he is wheelchair-bound and depends on his mother and girlfriend to care for him in every way possible. He loses all control of what he thinks it means to be a man, and must figure out how to reconfigure his masculinity.
I’m still in the beginning of the series, so I’m curious to see if characters will begin to break out of these strict gender confines. Either way, it clear that Dillon relies on these roles to function without disruption or chaos. What I would like to see is a couple of females and males break out of the roles that are expected of them.
Even watching this trailer will make you addicted/tear up:
Thanksgiving break meant returning to my hometown to not just visit family and friends, but also visit my dance teacher. Because I have known her since I was in elementary school and because I am no longer her student, having coffee with her felt like reconvening and reminiscing with an old friend. This blog has given me ample opportunity to reflect on my personal dance experiences, but I wanted to find out what the dance process was like for someone else. I took this opportunity to pick her brains about being a dancer.
When did you start dancing?
I can’t remember not dancing. I must have been three or four years old when I started classes, but I bet I was dancing in my mother womb.
Why did you start dancing?
It’s all thanks to my parents who enrolled me in classes.
Then why did you keep dancing?
At first it was just out of habit, something familiar for me to go to, but then I started wanting to go to classes. So, I started taking more and more classes until dance was my life.
Did you see dance as a career?
I saw it as a lifestyle.
What does that mean?
That means that to me I didn’t decide to dance because I needed a career. I dance because it embodies my feelings and it challenges me and it is my muse. For me dancing is just living, so I kept “living” until it became my career.
Was there ever a time you wanted to give up?
When I was young, in high school really, I felt I was missing out because if I wasn’t at school, I was at dance class. I felt I was missing the social aspect of high school, but I never doubted that dance was what I wanted. So I never stopped.
Did the professional world scare you?
Yes, until I realized they were just as scared as I was.
What do you mean by that?
I mean that, yes, professionals have confidence and grace but they are humans with the same worries as me, such as trying to eat right or getting nervous before interviews. Also every professional dancers started the in the same place as I did, in class learning what a plié is.
What’s the best part of being a dance teacher?
It’s rather nostalgic. I love teaching kids because it reminds me how it felt to be a young, eager dancer. I just want to bring that same joy I felt as a kid to my students.
If you weren’t a dancer or dance teacher, what would you have been?
I wanted to be a doctor when I was little, but then I found out the sight of blood makes me faint. Hahaha, that quickly changed my goals.
What is your favorite type of dance?
Communal dances. You know, like square dances or dancing at weddings. The types of dances where you don’t think and instead you just move to the music and feed off the mood of those around you. That’s the most rewarding and most fun type of dance because I get to do it with the people I love.
If you could give any advice to someone starting to dance for the first time, what would it be?
I would tell them not to be concerned with society’s standards of what is “good”, such as tricks and flips. Dance is about personal standards such as testing your body’s limits and expressing your emotion. Focus on those things and the tricks and flips will come thereafter. Just start dancing.
Preface: This post is a little weird because it’s literally all in my head (or exactly what I was thinking/ feeling that day).
This is such a struggle. I walk up the marble steps and in through gold trimmed doors. Wait. First, the metal detectors. First time? Shoes off. Jewelry off. Coat off. Sweater off. Underwear off—at least that’s where I felt the final destination might be. Step to the lady security guard. She gets to feel me up for a mini bomb or gun that I don’t have. I mean, I guess they always have to check.; It is the Rayburn Congressional office building.
Down the tomb-like hall—which literally looks like every other hallway. Take the elevator to 4th floor. Palms sweaty. Check my phone three times to find the time hasn’t changed. Look at the man in his nice suit as he presses the 2nd floor button. I wonder if he’s a Congressman? Oh god. I really have to pee. Walk down another tomb-like hallway. I wonder if I look like I’m in high school. I think I look old for my age, but I feel as if I have a stamp marked on my forehead that screams: “this one is new.”
Walk through the massive office doors as tall as the ceiling. The blue carpet is nice; almost makes the office feel warm (instead of an arctic tundra like the hall). A nice young lady asks me if I’m the new intern. I smile and pray three times that my voice doesn’t shake or crack when I speak. Lost cause. My vocal cords are all over the place. She leads me to a desk. Phone. Computer. Copy of the New York Times.
I’m asked to go over new bills and legislation for inconsistencies—after I finish sorting the mail. (Sorry constituents; your letters may have went in the trash.) Nothing makes sense. It’s all an inconsistency. The words are too big and the sentences a little too complex. I avoid the legal section like the plague. After seeing the first page, I save it for last. My brain hurts. After stalling in the photo section of the NYT, viewing every slide show from fashion to exotic homes, I go back to the legal section. I only make it four lines before giving up again. I instead start a list of all the other places I’d like to be—like on vacation, my bed, the coffee shop down the street. Maybe even the bathroom.
I never finish the legal sections of the legislation. I slip it back on my supervisor’s desk with random scribbles and question marks. I just can’t finish it. I even manage to take a 20 minute nap after completing my list. I feel like the laziest person ever, but honestly, I am never going to make it through that thing without a greater sense of willpower, caffeine (or interest in the material) than I currently possess. Again, lost cause. Back to the Times. Maybe I’ll just take a long lunch. They won’t miss me. Wait. I’m a horrible intern. Maybe I’ll ask to pre-read more of the Congressman’s mail. Yeah, I’ll do that; some constituent author just sent an advanced copy of his book. It looks terrible.
I still didn’t see the evidence.
When I’m bored I go straight to my Instagram and begin streaming through pictures that my friends and family have uploaded. It’s the normal routine of scrolling through my feed and getting to where I last left off. Not satisfied? Try searching for your favorite restaurant on Instagram, and trust me, your mouth will be watering by the end.
I tend to do this because for one, I’m a huge fan of food, and yes, I am that person who takes pictures of their food and posts it onto Instagram. I’m shameless. Apparently it’s a Jewish thing to do, which I can totally see, but I really can’t help capturing that perfect plate of goodness sitting right in front of me.
This brings me to streaming brunch. Out of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, breakfast is by far my favorite meal. But to keep up with what’s hip and trendy in today’s world, brunching is the way to go. There’s nothing better than waking up late on a Sunday morning and hitting up your favorite little café or restaurant to eat at with good company. The thing about brunch is that you can order a hardy meal because it’s breakfast and lunch combined, or even make your own hardy meal from the comfort of your own home. My favorite plate for brunch would have to be French toast or pancakes. I really can’t help myself with these carbs; it’s the kid inside of me coming out. The warmness of the meal fills my stomach, leaving me in my happy place.
Brunch isn’t just a free for all though. You have to dress the part. When brunching, I frown upon those who step out of their house to go to a fabulous restaurant dressed in rags. When going out with company, try being comfortable but not sloppy. Sweatpants are a definite no in this category. The only exception to sweatpants is if you’re in the own comfort of your home cooking up some eggs. So try scrambling through your wardrobe for your favorite pair of jeans with a simple and cute sweater, and spice things up and have an Arm Party when brunching out.
Nothing says brunch without the style involved in it all. Maybe even add a pair of sunglasses into this mix, because hey, you probably just woke up from a long night and makeup just might not be your priority.
